Next time Josh Hamilton comes to Globe Life Park, it's a certainty he'll be lustfully booed once again, just like every time he's returned to Arlington since leaving the Texas Rangers via free agency prior to the 2013 season.
Last season, his first with the Los Angeles Angels, went horribly for the former AL MVP, but this year has gone better. He's still not anywhere near his MVP abilities of 2010-2012, but he's better than his awful 2013 campaign.
Part of that success has been his time in Arlington. In the Angels' four-game sweep of the Rangers leading into the all-star break, Hamilton went 7-for-17 with four doubles and five runs. In fact, ever since his first return to Arlington at the beginning of the 2013 season, the hated former Ranger has actually been pretty good in Arlington.
He chalks his success up to the chorus of boos he hears every time he steps in the batter's box.
“The whole booing thing, it’s a challenge for me to step up,” Hamilton told reporters. “After that first series back here, I’ve been comfortable.”
Hamilton's first two games of his career in Texas as an opponent went horribly, as he was 0-for-8 with four strikeouts. Since those first two games, Hamilton is 19-for-45 (.422 batting average) in his eight games in Arlington.
